No room at the inn / room at the table

El Salvador, 1989. These internal refugees were rendered homeless in country wracked by war, poverty, and a succession dictatorships. Here in America, on the other hand, there is room at the table.

Vermont is ending a Covid-era housing program and evicting more than 2,800 people from the motel rooms that are their only shelter. This, after the Republican governor and the Democratic-controlled legislature finally found something to agree on: ending the motel program and passing a budget with no plan for housing or supporting the people they are throwing out.

The first wave will be evicted from their motel rooms by the end of May—today. But homeless shelters are all full, housing is in short supply, and rents are high.

So, with few-to-no options, non-profits are raising money to supply tents, sleeping bags, and tick spray and hoping the newly homeless can find a place to camp.

On Tuesday, in a hail-Mary effort, Vermont Legal Aid filed a class action lawsuit against the state to stop or stall the end of a housing program.